VinoCadre Uncorked

October 10, 2026

—

Something New

at VinoCadre L'Atelier

Tasting Feature for the Month of October:

Passion for Pinot [Noir]

October, at the studio.

Jovial conversation drifts upward as you make your way along the charming heritage staircase, each step carrying you a little farther from the bustle of Main Street and into the world of VinoCadre L’Atelier. Lofted above La Bergerie, our intimate studio is a place for gathering, discovery, and a closer look at the artistry behind the wines we love.

Stories unfold over shared glasses, craftsmanship reveals itself in every detail, and the pleasures of wine invite us to slow down and savor the moment.

This October, one particular passion takes center stage.

Passion for Pinot is a month-long celebration of one of the world’s most captivating grapes. From the elegance and complexity of Burgundy to the distinctive character of New World vineyards, we invite you to explore the many expressions of Pinot Noir. Throughout the month, L’Atelier will become a gathering place for Pinot lovers, with a rotating selection of wines chosen to reveal the beauty, nuance, and remarkable versatility of this beloved varietal.

Come upstairs, settle in, and let the exploration begin.

This October, passion reigns supreme—Passion for Pinot.

$40 per person, includes:

• A curated four-wine Pinot flight, featuring 95+ point selections and a rare library pour
• Expert-led tasting and commentary from the VinoCadre team
• Tasting notes for each selection
• Complimentary water and palate refreshments
• A keepsake tasting card featuring the evening’s selections
• A chance to discover select bottles available for purchase
• Access to the VinoCadre cellar and L’Atelier private tasting space
• A first look at select library and cellar selections
• Personalized recommendations based on your tasting preferences

Optional Charcuterie Experience, $75 per person:

• Artisanal cured meats and charcuterie
• Expertly paired cheeses selected to complement the Pinot flight
• Seasonal fruits and preserves
• Artisanal crackers and freshly baked accompaniments
• Nuts, olives, and savory accoutrements
• House-selected condiments and finishing touches
• A beautifully arranged spread designed for sharing and leisurely grazing throughout the tasting

Events

for the month of October

—

The Judgement of Fredericksburg: Wine Blending Competition with Andre Boada at Calivence

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

A little friendly competition, and something uniquely you

Wednesday, October 21

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Calivence Wine Bar + Bistro

$65 per person

Blending is something beautiful. It is, in many ways, in our nature.

When we share what we love, a little piece of it carries on with someone else. Blended into their life, it becomes something new—and from there, it is passed on again.

We blend traditions and cultures with our friends and loved ones. We have blended families and chosen families. We cross borders, adapt recipes, layer old pieces with new ones, and give new life to things we have inherited.

To be human is to have taste — not only in what we eat and drink, but in how we live. It is to gather what we love, bring it together, and make something that could not have existed before.

That is the beauty of blending. We take what we have, and create something new.

Even the name Calivence is a blend. Two places, California and Provence, brought together to create something distinctly its own.

And now, Calivence, in collaboration with VinoCadre, invites you to make a blend of your own.

Take the winemaker’s chair and create a cuvée that is distinctly yours. Working in teams of two, you’ll be given three blind Bordeaux varietal cuvées and the freedom to blend them as you see fit. Use all three, use two, or let one speak for itself. Pour, taste, adjust, and trust your palate as you work toward something new.

Once your cuvée is finished, the competition begins. Each table will choose its favorite blend, and the winning cuvées will advance to a panel of wine professionals — including André Boada — for the final tasting and assessment. Every team will have the rare opportunity to put its creation before a professional palate and hear how their blend comes together.

Along the way, enjoy wine-friendly bites and an evening of tasting, experimenting, and a little good-natured competition.

For this occasion, Calivence is bringing its estate wines to the table before they are bottled—a rare glimpse into the winemaking process at a moment when the final character of the wine is still being shaped. Crafted entirely on-site at the Calivence vineyard in Los Olivos, Santa Barbara, these cuvées offer a unique opportunity to taste the wines as the winemaker does: not yet finished, but full of possibility. Paired with French elegance and Texas hospitality, it’s an evening about discovering what happens when you trust your taste and create something new.

More details available on Calivence's website. https://calivencefbg.com/events/

Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival

Grand Tasting Private Sommelier Guided Experience

Saturday, October 24, 2026

Experience Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival as a VIP

Saturday, October 24

Tour A: 1:00 PM

Tour B: 3:00 PM

Guided by Andre Boada · $25 per person · Limited to 6 people per session

There is no shortage of things to taste at the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival. On Saturday, October 24, the festival’s Grand Tasting takes over Marktplatz, bringing together more than 35 wineries among the 75-plus culinary and beverage partners participating throughout the weekend.

This year’s lineup includes Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, Becker Vineyards, Augusta Vin, William Chris Vineyards, Signor Vineyards, Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa, Adega Vinho and Whatley Wines, among many others.

With so much to discover, it can be tempting to arrive with a plan, or simply wander from pour to pour and hope something wonderful finds you. We prefer a little more intention.

Let VinoCadre take you through the Grand Tasting with a private, sommelier-led experience designed to make the most of the afternoon. With Andre Boada as your guide, you’ll have a thoughtful path through the festival’s abundance, discovering wines worth lingering over and gaining insight into the people and places behind them.

And, well, it never hurts to know a few people. Wink, wink.

Come share in our great love of Fredericksburg wine — and let us show you a little more of what makes this place so special.

Know Before You Go: Festival admission is not included, and must be purchased separately. Tickets can be purchased here > https://fbgfoodandwine.com/festival-event-tickets/grand-tasting/#event Guests must be 21+. A designated meeting point will be shared with you after you receive confirmation of your tour. Please arrive to the meeting point at least 10 minutes prior to the beginning of your selected session time.

Sunday Dinner

Food & Wine Series at Alla Campagna:

The Power of Bordeaux

Sunday, October 25, 2026

The gentle breeze of autumn calls for the structured power of Bordeaux

Sunday, October 25

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Alla Campagna

$75 per person

Join us for the latest installment of our ongoing Food & Wine Sunday dinner series with Alla Campagna, where each month brings a new place, palate, and story to the table.

This month, we turn to Bordeaux for an immersive evening of elegant, structured wines and a thoughtfully composed dinner.

Explore the distinctive character of the region’s Left and Right Banks through a guided tasting that invites comparison between their signature styles, from the polished, Cabernet-led wines of the Left Bank to the lush, Merlot-driven character of the Right. With each pour paired to a carefully crafted course, settle in for an evening that captures the depth, balance, and timeless sense of place that make Bordeaux so enduring.

Preview: November, at the studio.

Next month, four new Texas wines will join the cellar at VinoCadre L’Atelier. Each bottle is hand-selected by Andre Boada for its exceptional quality, character, and craftsmanship.

After tasting and judging more than 200 Texas wines in the past week alone, Andre has narrowed the field to just four bottles worthy of a place in the Atelier cellar. The result is a highly selective flight that offers a closer look at what Texas wine is capable of at its very best.

Join us at L’Atelier next month to discover these new additions and taste a carefully chosen collection of wines representing some of the most exciting work happening across the state.

Sommelier Picks

View the Latest Additions to our Cellar

—

VinoCadre L'Atelier du Vin

Sommelier Picks, chosen by Andre Boada

Available at vinocadre.com

At VinoCadre, we believe exceptional wines are worth seeking out. Our curated collection brings together remarkable bottles from around the world—wines chosen not simply for their quality, but for their character, distinction, and sense of place.

Explore our Sommelier Picks, hand-selected by VinoCadre founder and Advanced Sommelier Andre Boada. Drawing on years of experience as a professional wine judge at competitions across the country, Andre seeks out the rare bottles that rise above the rest: exceptional wines that are difficult to find, thoughtfully made, and truly worth discovering.

These are the bottles we’re excited to share with you — special wines you won’t find just anywhere.

Explore the collection →

https://vinocadre.com/atelier/wines

2009 Châteauneuf-du-Pape "La Crau" Vieux Télégraphe

légraphe

94 points. The 2009 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau is a beauty. A blend of 60% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, finsihed with an assortment of varieties from La Crau. It exhibits a traditional, muscular bouquet of both red and black fruits, white pepper, rolled stone, iron, and spice cabinet-like characteristics. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied, structured wine.

$125.00 (plus tax)

Buy Now

—

2025 Domaine Reverdy- Ducroux "Clos du Roy" Sancerre, Loire, France

Not yet rated, but hand-selected by Andre for its notably soft texture, generous flavor, and long finish. Single-site, limestone-grown Sancerre from a 14th-generation domaine. A graceful expression of Sauvignon Blanc, defined by freshness, finesse, and a beautifully polished fruit profile. Bright and aromatic, it opens with vivid citrus and ripe yellow fruit, followed by a supple, generous palate with a delicate mineral edge.

$49.00 (plus tax)

Buy Now

—

2010 Quintessa "Rutherford" Red Blend 1.5 L Magnum

96 points. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the blend, accompanied by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenère, aged 20 months in 85% new French oak. Ripe red and black currants, graphite, spicy oak and leafy tobacco lead into polished tannins, freshness and a medium-to-full-bodied finish. A superb vintage to enjoy now, the 2010 Quintessa offers the depth, balance, and graceful maturity.

$450.00 (plus tax)

Buy Now

—

Until Next Time

There is always something new to discover at VinoCadre—from a bottle worth lingering over to a gathering worth making an evening of. We look forward to sharing what’s coming next, and to welcoming you soon.

Until then, cheers.

— The VinoCadre Team

Don't forget — the best things are never kept to yourself.